Registering and metering system



Dec. 12, "1950 c. s. HAZARD REGISTERING AND METERING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 26, 1945 I N V EN TOR. 6/mr/es S. fi'azard Dec. 12, 1950 c. s. HAZARD REGISTERING AND METERING SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 26, 1945 INVENTOR. (liar/es 5. Hazard F/TTO/ENE Y Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Charles S. Hazard, Andove'r, N. .L, assignc r to Neptune Meter Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application March 26, 1945 Serial N 584,969 '12 claims. (01. fizz-:26)

This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and more especially to apparatus for measuring and for registering or recording the measurement ofmaterial dispensed.

The invention particularly relates to dispensing of fluids, such 'as gasoline or other liquids, and to the operative connections which must he provided between the fluid meter or other measuring device and the register.

In apparatus of this type, usually a register constructed to integrate in predetermined units the amount of the material delivered concomitantly with measurement thereof by the meter is operably connected to the meter so that measuring movement of an element of the meter will be transmitted to the register. A settable register, which may be of the auto-stop type, may be thus connected to the meter and, upon return thereof to its initial or zero position, may beeffective to stop delivery of the material or flow of the fluid through the meter.

In installations of this kind it frequently is desirable to locate the meter and the device for controllin delivery of the material at a place more or less remote from the locationof the reg: ister; In gasoline distributing plants, for example, the loading station may be located in the yard accessible to trucks or other vehicles and economy of construction as well as convenience makes it desirable to locate the meter and the control valves at or near the loading station. The registering and recording devices, however, preferably are located in an office which may be some distance from the loading station. Conditions of arrangement and simplicity make it de sirabl'e to provide flexible connections between the meters located at the loading station and the register which may be bent around corners or carried around obstructions while remaining op erative. Although in some cases these purposes may be accomplished by electrical means, in others convenience or cost or other conditions may make it desirable to provide, in whole or in part, mechanical connections between the meter and the register.

In the application of Hazard and Shipm'an, Serial No. 443,644, filed June 26, 1942 is disclosed apparatus for dispensin fluids in which ele'c-' trical connections are providedbetween the meter and the register; also electrical means for j driving the register which are under control of the meter. structedand are so controlled by the meter that step step integrating movement of the register is produced in correspondence with the measur- The electrical means are so c'onmg of the fluid in successive units by the meter. Electrical jrr'ie'aris also are disclosed in said application for operating the fluid control valve first under control of the register to reduce 11655 of the fluid when the delivery approaches c pletion and then under control of the meter cisly upon complticfi of the last unit riiea's' by the meter to stop delivery by closing the val one of the objects of the invention is to pr vide indispensing apparatus of the type ab referred to connections between the ihet" the register which havethe desired fie)"; l and which are mechanically operative for drivifi r st A further object of the invention is to proifide between the register and the delivery control means, such as a valve, connections havin the desired flexibility which include mechanically operative means which cooperate with the meter to operate the delivery control means.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a mechanically operative connection, which may be flexible, between the register and the control device, such as a valve controlling flow of fluid through the meter, for operating the valve under control of the register until a predetermined amount has been metered and registered. I

Another object of the invention is to provide an operative connection between the register and the valve which includes mechanical means which is under the control of the register but which also is effective to make the meter domi-" nant in controlling the valve to efiect final closure thereof to stop the flow of the material through the meter.

An important object of the invention is to pro: vide a'pparatus, which includes mechanically functioning means as above-mentioned, which will insure completion or the measurement by the meter in full units in agreement with the amount registered by the register.

It is afurther object of the invention to pro= vide apparatus of the type above referre'd to which the meter will be effective to operate the delivery control means or the valve to stop de'-" livery precisely at the completion of a full unit of measurement after the register has feline duish'ed' control of the metering and registering operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide" a mechanical device actuated by the meter and under" control of an" auto-stop register which will effect reduction of the flow of the material through the meter upon completion oiregistration of a predetermined amount and position.

For the accomplishment of the above objects the invention provides, among other features, mechanically operative devices, which may include power means for relieving the meter of the driving load, which connect the meter to the register to produce registering operation thereof. This driving connection may include a shaft or other element, preferably a flexible shaft, capable of transmitting driving movement by rotation. The devices comprised in this driving connection preferably are designed to effect step by step movement of the register concomitantly with the completion of movement, particularly of rotation, of an element of the meter which measures a unit or other desired increment of measurement.

The invention also provides a connection, which may include a flexible or Bowden type cable, between the register and a member arranged to bemovable in a path which may include an initial or withdrawn position, a second or intermediate position and a third or advanced position. Said member may be moved between said initial and said second or said third positions upon setting or return movement of the register by virtue of the pull or push action of said connection. Said member is arranged to be engaged by an eement actuated by the meter and to be moved thereby locally while in said intermediate position, Said member and said meter actuated element are also arranged so that when the member is moved to the advanced position, it may be actuated by said element for local movement in said advanced position. Means are provided to utilize the local movement of said member in these two positions and to transmit this movement to the valve so as to effect closing movement thereof. When a valve of the construction above referred to having a two-step closing movement is used, operation thereof to the partialy open position is secured when said member is actuated for local movement in said second position, said valve being thereafter operated to move to closed position when said member is actuated for local movement a in said third position.

It is a particular feature of the invention that said'member is moved by the auto-stop register so as to be interposed, when said auto-stop register has returned to a predetermined reading or to zero, between an element actuated by the meter and means connected to the valve. Upon such interposition of said member respectively in the two positions, intermediate or advanced, as above described the meter becomes effective to operate the valve in closing movement to a partially open position and finally to effect ful closing thereof upon completion of the last 'full unit measured by the meter.

Inthe preferred arrangement a valve which is biased to its closed position is used Means are provided in connection with this Valve for opening the valve by hand or otherwise against its bias and means also are provided which are effective to restrain the valve in open position against its bias. This restraining means is constructed so that it may be operatively connected to said member to release said valve to move toward its closed position but to intercept and arrest said movement before said valve reaches closed position. This action may take place when the member is actuated in said second or intermediate position. When the member is actuated in the third or advanced position, the restraining means is again actuated to release the valve to move to fully closed position.

Within the scope of the invention movement of the member in said path between said initial position and said second and third positions, may be effected by electrical means. Such electrical means may be actuated by the auto-stop or similar settable register. Electrical means may also be used to operate the restraining means above referred to so as to operate the valve as above described.

It is an important feature of the invention in its various embodiments that the member, arranged for movement to the initial position'upon setting of the auto-stop register, is moved successively to its interposing positions when the register (1)-- has integrated a predetermined number of units less than the total amount to be dispensed and, (2)--thereafter has completed the registration, that is, has returned to zero. The member thus moved by the register first initiates control by the meter for partial closure of the valve and finally causes the meter to dominate the control of the valve for effecting final closure thereof.

The integrating movement of the register for each unit registered thereby may be completed slightly in advance of the actual completion by the meter of measurement of each such unit and in advance of the last of the total number of units dispensed. The arrangement of the member with respect to the element which is actuated by the meter and with respect to the devices and parts which are operated by said member in this case also is such that they are effective to produce first the partial closing of the valve and thereafter'full closure precisely upon completion of the last unit, although this final closure may occur after completion of the registration by the register of said last unit.

The invention will be further explained in connection with the drawings in which Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic arrangement of a register, a meter and a valve to control the flow of fluid through the meter together with devices embodying the invention.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show three operative positions of certain parts shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of means for controlling the operation of the valve in two steps.

Fig. 6 shows a modification of the invention of Fi 1.

Fig. 7 shows a modification of the device of Fig. 6 utilizing electrically operated means for effecting operation of the valve.

In Fig. 1 the essential elementary parts of an auto-stop register are shown generally at l consisting of the numeral wheels 3, 4, 5 and 6 arranged on shaft 8 driven through a suitable train of gearing from shaft Hi. This train of gearing also drives shaft 9 of an integrating register H. Mounted on shaft ll! is a star wheel [2 of a Gen va movement, the driving element l3 of 75 which is provided with a single indexing pin l4,

the star wheel l2 being provided with four lobes for engagement of the indexing pin l4 upon rota, tion of the driving element [3 fastened upon flexible shaft IS. The flexible shaft at its opposite end is connected through a friction clutch or similar device 20 to the worm gear I! driven by worm I3 fastened upon the shaft of motor I9. The motor I9 is driven in such direction in consideration of the hand of the thread on the Worm l8 that the worm gear I? is rotated in the direction of the arrow. The motor may run continuously to continuously rotate the Worm gear H, the friction clutch or similar device, which may be of conventional design, providing for contine uance of the rotation of the worm gear I! when rotation of shaft i5 is arrested.

Fastenecl upon the shaft IE, or the portion of the friction clutch to which it is connected, is a. trip arm 25 which when released is driven to rotate with the shaft 15 by the frictional drive of the clutch above referred to. In the position shown in Fig. 1 the trip arm 25 is he d against rotation by the hook 2'! of the bell crank lever 28 pivotally supported at 26. The arm 29 of said bell crank is arranged for engagement by a cam 31 as it rotates, said cam being fastened upon a shaft 32 driven through bevel gears 33 from the operating element of a meter 35. Also arranged for actuation by the cam 3| is the lever 38 pivotally supported at 39, the end 40 of this lever being engageable by the cam 3! as it rotates. The opposite end 4! of said lever 33 en gages arm 33 of the bell crank pivotally supported at 45. The other arm A! of said bell crank extends in such osition that the end thereof is in the path of travel of trip arm 25 as it is rotated after release from the book 21. Rotat on of said trip arm is arrested by the a m A? and rotat on of the shaft i5 is stop ed when. co comitantly with rotation of the trip arm 25, said shaft has rotated one-half a revolution from the pos tion shown in Fig. 1. The levers 28, 38 and A! are biased to the positions shown in relat on to trip arm 25 and cam 3! by tension s ring 8.

Release of the trip arm 25 from the hook 21 is effected by the cam 3 l rotating in the direction of the arrow and acting on the arm 29 to n otallv move the bell crank 23 and to move the hook 2'! upwardly out of engagement with the trio arm 25. Upon further rotation of the cam 3! ts lobe engages the end 4!! of the lever 38. Pivotal movement of the lever 33 mo es the end 4| thereof clockwise about the pivot 39 and by contact with the arm 43 of the bell crank pivoted at 5 effects downward movement of the other arm 41'. Thus, after the trip arm 25 has been released by hook 21 and has moved one-half revolution into engagement with the arm 41, it is stopped androtation of shaft i5 is. stopped; When by the action of came! on lever 38 this arm 4'! is moved out of engagement with the trip arm 25, said trip arm 25 rotates another one-half revolution until it is engaged again by the hook 2 1 of the bell crank 28.

The devices thus far described in connection with Fig. 1 make possible step by step rotation of the shaft 15 under the driving action of the motor is. It will be apparent, upon consideration of the drawing and the above description, that in the part cular embodiment illustrated and described, the shaft i5 will make one-half'revolib tion in each one-half revolution of the shaft 32' which is driven by the meter 35. By providing a suitable ratio in the gearing in consideration of the operative movement of the parts within the meter, each revolution of the shaft 32 may represent one unit of measurement by the meter. The Geneva movement also produces step by step operation of the shaft [0 in relation to the shaft 15. The ratio of the train of gearin connected between the shaft H3 and shaft 8 may be such in consideration of the ratio in the Geneva movement l2, I3, Hi that one unit will be registered by the units wheel 3 of the auto-stop register 1 for each revoiution of shaft i5 and for each unit of measurement by the meter. Continuous rotation of the meter during the metering operation, transmitted through the devices shown, will produce step by step integrating rotation of the numeral wheels of said register to register or record the amount of fluid passing through the meter 55.

The deviceswhich produce the step by step operation above referred to are arranged in relation to the shaft it so that such operation of the register is secured even though some torsional lag or lead may occur in said shaft 15, as when a flexible shaft is used to secure the advantages and objects of the invention above mentioned. The trip arm 25 cooperating with the cam actuated levers 28 and 4? controls the rotational movement at one end of shaft l5 and the Geneva movement I2, 43, it controls the rotation of shaft Hi and therefore of the register shaft 8 so that each revolution of shaft [5, corresponding to unit movement within the meter, produces the fractional rotation of the units wheel of the register representing one unit of measurement regardless of any angular lag of driving element 83 behind arm 25 or angular movement of element is ahead of arm 25 which may be the result of the resilience of shaft 55 as it is rotated.

If desired, also, through suitable gearing a register 53 may be from the shaft 32.

On the shaft 5! driven by the bevel gear 34 from the gear 33 on the meter shaftis fastened a cam 53 rotating in the direction of the arrow. The ratio of the gears 33 and 34 such that the cam 53 is rotated once fOr each rotation of the cam 3i, that is, once for each unitof measurement.

Adjacent the cam 53 a dog 55 is pivotally supported at 5? at the outer end of the arm 58 of the bell crank pivot-ally supported at 59. The upwardly extend'ngarm 8! of said bell crank is biased by 5;; toward the right to effect, under said bias, movement of the dog 55 downwardly This movement of the dog 55 may take place in sliding relation to a stop 65 against which, under the bias of a spring fit, the dog 55 is held until moved therefrom by pivoting in'support 57 for purposes hereafter descr bed. This pivotal movement of dog- 55 may occur as a local move ment thereof, transversely of the line of movement thereof upwardly and downwardly, and may take place in any position to which the dog is moved by the bell crank arm 53.

ivotal movement of the bell crank pivoted at- 59 is effected through a connection from the auto-stop register I to the arm 6! of said bell crank. This connection may be any suitable mechanical connection $3 capable of transmitting force lengthwise thereof and may be in the form of a flexible or Bowden type cable or wire. Motion of translation, that is, push and pull movement of the flexible cable is secured when the auto-stop register I is set from the zero position to a setting corresponding to the amount of fluid to be measured by the meter 35.; Thismovement of translation is produced by means. of the rollers 73', 14, 15', it mounted on rod #8 supported.

' i and "I5 may be moved simultaneously with respect to the numeral wheels 3, l, 5 and 6.

To the bar 84 is connected the other end of the mechanical element or Bowden cable 58, which also is connected to the upwardly extending arm of the bell. crank pivoted at 59, as above mentioned. Setting of the auto-stop register I may be accomplished by rotation of the numeral wheels by conventional means not shown. Each wheel 3, i, 5 and 5 is provided with a disc rotating therewith and having a notch therein into which respectively the rollers I3, l4, I5, I6 for the units, 10s, 100s and 1000s wheel enter when all of the register wheels are at Zero. Upon rotating, by hand or otherwise in the presetting operation, one or more of the numeral wheels, the respective discs are rotated and the rollers I3, I4, I5 and 16 all are moved outwardly of the notches in the discs attached to the several wheels when any one disc cams its roller out of its notch. This action takes place whether one or more of said wheels are rotated in the presetting action since the frame consisting of the end members I9, 83 and the connecting rods 78 and BI and the bar 85 moves as a unt pivotally on the rod 8|.

After the register has been set to a desired setting the frame and the rollers I3, I4, I5 and I5 carried thereby may not pivot reversely, that is, in the direction of the arrow about the axis of the rod 8I until all of the notches of all of the discs are in line and all of the rollers 13, I4, I5 and can enter at the same time. Such pivotal movement of the frame, when it occurs, will cause movement of the upwardly extending arm SI of the bell crank pivoted at 59 toward the right aided by the pull of the spring 53 with concomitant downward movement of the dog 55. It will be understood that when all of the rollers I3, I4, I5 and 76 simultaneously enter the notches of the discs corresponding to the zero positions of all the numeral wheels, the dog 55 is moved to its lowermost or what has been referred to above as its third or advanced position.

In order to provide for movement of the dog 55 to a second or intermediate position between the initial set position, that is the uppermost position thereof, and said lowermost position, in the particular embodiment illustrated the roller 73 associated with the disc which is fastened to the units wheel 3 is made with a smaller diameter than the diameter of the other rollers M, I5, I6, the diameter of the discs, however, all being the same. The notch in the disc of the units wheel is of sufficient depth to permit the roller I3 to move the full distance necessary to carry the other rollers fully into their respective notches when the numeral wheels all are at zero. The disc associated with the units wheel 3, however, acting with roller I3 prevents the rollers I4, 15, 16 from fully engaging the notches in the discs respectively of wheels 4, 5 and 6 until the units wheel 3 reaches zero, even though all of the wheels 4, 5 and 5 show zero reading. This is the condition of the register when indicating a reading of less than 10 units. Since all of the rollers 13, I4, I5 and I6 move together upon pivotal movement of the frame I9, 83, the rollers I4, I5 and I6 will move only a fraction of their full movement into their notches and only partial pivotal movement of the frame I9, 83 will be produced. The flexible cable connection therefore will move the dog 55 a fraction only of the total movement of the dog from its uppermost or initial set position to its lowermost position. Thereafter when the units wheel disc reaches zero the roller I3 fully enters its notch as also do the rollers I4, I5, I6 to the' full extent and further movement of the dog to its lowermost position takes place.

It thus will be apparent that the device acting as an auto-stop register and illustrated at I in Fig. 1 is effective to move the dog 55 from a position to which upon setting it is withdrawn out of engagement with the cam 53, as shown in Fig. 2, to a second or intermediate position as shown in Fig. 3, and to a third or advanced posi-' tion as shown in Fig. 4. In the withdrawn position of Fig. 2 the cam 53 runs clear of the dog 55, this dog being held in its uppermost position by the bell crank arm 58. The spring 66 holds the dog 55 against the stop 55. The latch I III] is lifted by pin I0! attached to dog 55 so that the hook III'Z of said latch is out of engagement with the upper end I55 of the lever IM pivoted at I66. In setting the register I to an amount less than 10 units the dog 55 will be moved to the position of Fig. 3 instead of to the fully withdrawn position of Fig. 2 because only the roller I3 of smaller diameter will be camm'ed out of its notch, that is it will move only a fraction of the full pivotal movement of the frame I9, 83.

To the downwardly extending arm of the lever I04 is attached a flexible cable or Bowden wire IE8 or other element capable of transmitting motion of translation and connected, as may be seen in Fig. 1, to the valve I I5 positioned in the pipe 36 through which the fluid is delivered to the meter 35. This valve preferably is constructed so as to be biased to closed position. Any conventional construction may be used in which opening movement may be effected against the bias and a valve such as that shown in my copending application Serial No. 583,429, filed March 19, 1945, now Patent No. 2,508,064, issued May 16, 1950, may be used in which the lever I I I is operable by hand to produce opening movement of the valve against its bias. By means of devices within the valve I ID, or by other suitable means such as that shown in Fig. '5, the flexible connection I88 may be biased to move the lever IM counterclockwise about the pivot I55. The stop I09 limits this motion so that the dog 55 therefore may pass between the face of the step I I2 on the lever I04 and the cam 53 as the cam 53 rotates,

on the shaft 5|.

As will be seen from Fig. 3, the lobe of the cam 53 in the rotation thereof comes into contact with the lower end of the dog 55 and effects local pivotal movement of said dog about the pivot 57. The toe of the dog 55 engages the step H2 and moves the lever I54 on pivot I05 in the clockwise direction, the latch I55 being now in a lowered position so as to engage the end Ill-5 of the lever I84 to hold said lever in the position to which it is moved. This movement of lever I84 effects pull on the flexible connection I08 against the bias thereof, this pull being transmitted to a device within the valve M5 to be hereinafter described to effect initial closing movement of the valve under its bias. As will be understood, however, from the description to be given hereinafter in connection with said valve operating device, said closing movement may be units and the dog is inthe position of ljifg. 3;

as above mentioned, the cam 53 will actuate dog to move the lever I04 and position the valve in said partially open position.

I When the numeral wheels of the egiste 1 eh I I have returned'to zero so that all of the rollers 13, 14, and 16 may fiilly enter the notchesf ofthe' discs respectivelyassociated with theigei'o re ings of said wheels, the' further downward Ind men't of t he dog 55 takes place te the pesitteii shown in Fig. 4. Because the spring 66' (iraWs th dog 55 against the stop 65 and be'eailse the latoh lea holds the ever let i thepos'ition of Fig} 3, after the lobe of the (2am 53 p'as'ses, thedog' 55 is clear of the step I12 and free to move ffur ther downwardly as' the bell crank ar'nj' is lowered under the biasof the spring 63'. T additional downward movement of the dog 55" may take place Within one revolution of th'e am 5-3. When the dog as reachesits lovvern1ost p115 siti'o'n as illustrated Fig. 4', the toe thereof win engage the surface I M 6f the lever [Q41 Because of the s tepped' arrangement of the surfaces H2 and iii; further pivotal mov'ement'of the lever we will be produced when the lobe of the came; again comes into oonta't With the dog 55 This will efi et efiirther pull on the f 'exitie onnee:

tion Hi8 and this additional movement of trans:

lation in this conneotion will oprate' the devices of the valve i It again toefieo't reie 'se' thereof and movement und r its waste the closed position oi the valve vthieh will stop flow of the'fln'id through the meter I I It will also he e ezrentthe't when the" au to stop or p'i'esettahle register I is again set to e'fiect' rotation of the numeral Wheels andtheif lie pee I tive olisos', the dog 55' will be withdrawn froin the positing shown in Fig. e and wil bem'oved to the position shown in'Figfl 2. Operation of the V lv e, as by means of the handle H to openth we and produce new ofthe; hind through the meter 1 will initiatefrotation' of the haft" az'end' the roe? tation of shaft 56 as wen as of shafts 8 and I0 through the flexible shaft as above" dese'ri'eee to produce integrating'rotation of th'e're'gi'ster'afnd return of the-auto-stop register to zero position. The dog will re'rn'ainin the position sho'tv'n inf Figgfl as long as the auto-stop" register remains: at zero and until the auto-stop register is setfor a subsequent dispersing operation. I I

In Fig.- 5 is shown a mechanical device for eff feoting closing movement of the valve in two steps, that is, from the open positio'ntoa partially open position and thereafter to a fully closed po sition. A shaft shown-in cross=section at} 20 may be connected to the stem of a valve designed to operate by rotation-or said shaft I20 may be otherwise connected by suitable devices to operate the $136111 ofa valve" in vvhich'openingand closing movement thereof is effeoteclby lengthwise mete; ment-of the valve stem asdisolosed in my'oopengi ing application- Serial No'. 583,429, filed March 1'9, 1945. 7 Upon the shaft [201 is fastened hy mean of a key l 22 adi'so i'2- 3 proviried ratehetteeth 5 il m} l 'i i i' tzab ma T aSuit-i abl torsiofispi'ing not shown; or by aot ibnof from themeter. A h

- tial' length whether fieshbieor be; provided and; such transmission may V v 10 4 s ri e"- r othf iet 'ens the Va v the shaft is connected, my bgbiasefi to, rotat trieqireetionef the in Fig.- 5 to 'efiect'clo's iil'g bvm M b' h a P'ivoted'upon'a fixed pin {3511s a pew; 131 are, ranged for engagement Witlij the ratchet tooth I25 to prevent ortnei nst 523 i ittebiasi di- L ,t TM 7,

I ise until the tooth l2? comes; i w th f ee ;3; 1p w1l ISQJ The pawls I31 ement wan teeth r25.

Th f er t ei the hook see-Win I 2"; The relation 0; the spe'tivepawls'and tie; th mover'nen't vvi ll brin efnt 71th hook mm vemnt of v a th n 1 I o, as fesofibeo eonheoti'oh' the 551 formed; p'fart (ifj II x taot Withthe ss9 ggivqteq t let. The'p'fill ee tteeby the" en etti ri; me nder t e act a'tion the dog" tees iri F g. 4,; by virtu the dog 55 I I efieeting ep ret emet thef register c with rotation of the 'm eterL s inventionfiin this" exnhodifiiehtis" pie; the register isQloated" at onsi c'ler It a so u 'lizes electrical t eem te tr' v V register tothemetejr and veivej ey he acoifi p lished who-11y 16y n' eane er meehemea eenee tifons,"and; theseconne'e 'ons' m 11 wardly extending arm I6I of this bell crank carries one of two electrical contacts I62. Upon setting of the units wheel of the auto-stop register the roller I55 is moved out of the notch in the disc II associated with the units wheel and the contacts I62 are closed.

Th rollers I56, I51 and I58 are rotatably supported on rod I63 carried in frame members I65 which are joined by rod I66 in a rigid unit, said rod and frame being pivotally supported in bearings I69. These rollers I56, I51 and I58 are moved simultaneously out of the notches in the respective discs uponrotation of one or more of the discs I 52, I53, I54 associated respectively with the 10s, 100s, 1000s wheels. Pivotal movement of the frame I65 in this manner brings into engagement the contacts I68 of an electrical circuit actuated by projection I61 of the frame I65.

Attached to the frames I65 is rigid bar I1I which extends in overlapping relation to the bell crank lever I59. Pivotal movement of frame I65 by rotation of a wheel of higher order than the units wheel will cause bar I1I to press downwardly on lever I59 and hold switch I 62 closed whenever the units wheel passes its zero while a higher wheel still indicates a registration. The contacts I62 and I68 are electrically connected in series and when both are closed by the actuation of both the units wheel disc I5I and the discs I52, I53, I54 associated with wheels of higher order an electric circuit will be closed from the supply I16 through said contacts to the solenoids I14 and I16 which are in series with each other and with said contacts I62 and I68, the other terminal of the solenoid I16 being connected to ground at I18.

In parallel with the contacts I68 but in series with contacts I62 is the resistance I86. Closing of both of the contacts I62 and I68 short circuits the resistance I86 to bring substantially the full electromotive force upon the solenoids. Opening of the contacts I68 upon return of the 10s wheel and all wheels of higher order to their zero readings places the resistance I86 in series with solenoids I14 and I16, thereby reducing the current flowing through these solenoids. This reduced flow of current continues until the return of the units wheel to zero, whereupon the contacts I62 are opened and the solenoids are deenergized,

Arranged beneath the solenoid I14 is an armature I84 carried by lever I86 pivotally supported at I88. Beneath the solenoid I16 is an armature I96 carried by lever I92 also pivotally supported at I88. The lever I 86 also carries a pin I93 positioned to engage the lever I92 as shown in Fig. 6 as said lever I92 moves downwardly about the pivot I88 and so as to support the lever I92 when the lever I86 is held upwardly by action of the solenoid I14 when energized. When the solenoid I16 is insufficiently energized to hold'the armature I96 in its upper position as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 6, the lever I92 will drop into engagement with the pin I93. The solenoid I14 may, however, hold the lever I86 in its upper position and the lever I92 in an intermediate position and preventing rotation of both levers I86 and I92 counter-clockwise about the pivot support I88. The resistance of the two solenoids is such that when both contacts I62 and I 68 are closed the current flowing through the solenoids I14 and I16 is sufiicient to hold both armatures I84 and I96 in their upper positions. When, however, reduction of the current occurs by cutting in the resistance I86 upon opening contacts I68 12 the design of the solenoid I16 is such that it ex erts insufficient force to hold the armatur I96 in its upper position. The design of the solenoid I14, nevertheless, is such that this reduced current is sufficient to energize the solenoid I14 to .support the lever I86 as Well as the lever I92.

It will be apparent from Fig. 6- that the movement of the lever I92 downwardly until it comes into contact with pin I93 efiects downward movement of the dog 55 pivotally supported at 51 in the same manner as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 above-described. The position of the dog 55 in Fig. 6 is the same as that shown in Fig. 3, that is, the dog 55 is in intermediate position, having been moved to this position upon opening of the contacts I68 when the armature I96 was released by the weakened solenoid I16. The action of the latch I66 and its hook I 62 and of the lever I64, as well as the action of cam 53 rotating on shaft 5I driven by meter 35, are the same as described in connection with Figs. 1-4.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 the lever I 64 is connected at its lower end to the valve I I6 by a rod 266 corresponding to the flexible connection I66. If desired, in place of a stiff rod 266 a flexible connection such as a Bowden wire may be used. Rod 266 may be connected to actuate latch I3I as described in connection with Fig. 5. The operation of the valve II6 may be the same as that described in connection with Figs. 1 and 5.

Instead of using a mechanical connection to valve H6 from the lever I64 operated by do 55 under impulse from cam 53, Figs. 1-6, an electrical circuit may be provided in which is connected electrical power means, such as a pair of solenoids, which are energized and deenergized under control of the dog. The solenoids may be arranged, as in Fig. '1, to operate the pawls I3I and I34 which effect restraint of the disc I23 against its bias as described in connection with Fig. 5. The solenoids 2I6 and 2I2 of Fig. 7 when energized respectively exert pull toward the left upon their movable cores 2I I and H3. By means of torsion spring 2I5 supported upon stud 2I6 in fixed bracket 2I1, said sprin having projecting ends which engage pins 2I8 and 2l 9 on said cores, these cores are biased to move toward the right in Fig. '1 upon deenergization of the solenoids 2!!! and 2 I2.

The pawls I3I and I34 are pivoted on fixed pin I36 as in Fig. 5 and engage ratchet teeth I25 and I21 for restraint and release of the disc I23 for the purpose of holding the valve open and to effect closing movements of the valve as described in connection with Fig. 5. Pawl I3I at the end opposite its tooth engaging point is connected as a link by pin 2I9 to core 253 of solenoid 2I2. Pawl l36 at the end opposite its hook I38 is connected as a link by pin 2I8 to core 2H of solenoid 2I6. Under the bias of spring 2I5 each pawl independently of the other is disengaged from the ratchet disc I23 when the solenoid to the core of which it is connected is deenergized.

To effect energization and deenergization of the solenoids concomitantly with actuation of the dog 55 b the cam 53, the lower end of the lever I64 may be provided with a bridging contact 225 supported on an extension of the lever I64 so as to move therewith to the different positions of said lever, as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 and respectively indicated in full and in dotted and in dash lines in Fig. 7. The contact 225 bridges across fixed contacts 221 when the dog 55 is in the withdrawn position of Figs. 2 and 7. When upon interposition of dog 55 the lever I64 is, moved to the intermediate. position of Fig. 3 (dottedlines. of Fig 7) the, contact 225 bridges the fixed contacts 229. One each of the contacts 22! and 229 is connected to ground at 238. The other contact 22'! is connected to the solenoid 2I2 which actuates the paWl I3I. This solenoid also is connected in series with the solenoid 2 I 0, which actuates pawl I34, and then to supply line 23L The other contact 229 is connected to the connection joining solenoids ZIB and 2I2 so that this contact 229 is in series only with the solenoid 2 III. When the lever I 04 is moved to the position of Fig. 4 (dash lines of Fig. 7) the bridging contact 225 is moved out of engagement with, con-- tacts 221 and 229, and both of the solenoids are deenergized.

'Upon setting of the, auto-stop register which elfects withdrawal of dog 55 to what has been referred to as its initial position, the lever I04, is. moved by spring 228 to the full line position in Fig. 7', thereby closing contacts 221 and energizins both solenoids. Both cores 2H and 2I3' are drawn toward the left in Fig. 7 and both pawls I.3I, and I34 are pivoted against the bias of spring 215 into engagement with ratchet disc I23. When rotation of this disc counter-clockwise in Fig. 7 is. eifected; concomitantly with opening of the valve to which disc, I23 is. connected through shaft I20, pawl, I3! is brought into engagement with tooth I25 to hold thevalve open. Openingof contacts 227 by movement of lever I04 to the intermediate position (dotted lines) deenergizes solenoid 2I2 and releases disc I23v from pawl I3I,

to. rotate clockwise until the hook I33 of pawl I34.

engages tooth I27 of disc I23. The valve thus is movedto partially closed position as described in connection with Fig. 5. Subsequent, opening of contacts 229 by further movement of lever I64 to, the advanced position (dash line) deenergizes the solenoid 2H! andreleases pawl I34 from tooth I21 to effect full. closure of the valve.

It will now be apparent that the operation of the valve connected to shaft I22 in Fig. 7 is under control of the dog 55, which in turn is controlled by the register in the same. manner as above described in connection with Figs. 1 and 6., The requisite movement of the dog 55 to. the. withdrawn or initial position upon setting of. the.

register and its subsequent movement to the sec: 0nd or intermediate and then to the third or advanced position in the return movement of the register, for actuation of the contacts 22? and 229-, maybe accomplished either by the'mechanical. driving connection of Fig. 1 or by the elec-- trical means of Fig. 6. In either case, however,

theregister, by the mechanical driving connection of Fig. 1 or by the electrical means of Fig. 6, may bedriven. by means under control of the meter and. the register, by its movement from theposition to. which it has been set, determines when cessation of delivery is initiated. This it doesby moving the dog 55 to its first interposing positionto produce partial closure of the valve, the dog being actuated in this position by the meter driven cam 53. Thereafter theregister moves the; dog to its second interposing position and; themeter, actuating the dog in this second position,

takes over completion of the delivery byeifecting' final closure of the valve precisely upon finishingthe last full unit of the metered and delivered material.

I claim;

1. In a, dispensing apparatus, the combinationwith. a. measuring device, meansfor controlling;

14 device. and a register'settable from an initial position to; a. position corresponding to the amount of material to be measured, and operable to; return to said initial position, of a Bowden wire, means connected to said Bowden wire and actuated by said register for efiecting movement of said Bowden wire length-wise thereof in one direction upon setting movement of said register and in the opposite direction upon return of said register: to said initial position, a dog connected to said Bowden wire andarranged to be moved thereby to occupy a given position when said reg- .ister is in said initial position and to be with from said position, means actuated by said dog.

upon saidoperative. engagement thereof by said rotatable element for causing movement" of. said. delivery control means toward its stop. delivery position, and a driving connection between said, measuring device and said register to effect said return movement of said register upon operation of said meter.

2. In av dispensing apparatus, the combination with; a measuring device,.and. aregister settable froman initial position to. aposition corresponding to, the amount of material to be measured: andoperable to return tosaid initial position, of a shaft connected to saidregister to drive said. register; upon rotation of said shaft; a: rotatable:

; stop element connected to said shaft to rotate.

therewith, a motor operatively connected; to saidv rotatable stop element for effecting rotation: thereof, trip means engaged by said rotatable. stop element at a given point in the rotation thereof to stop, rotationof said shaft, andmeans. actuatedby saidmeter for intermittently actuatingv said tripmeans to release. andagain to engage said rotatable stop element to effect rotationv of saidshaft and of. said registerin stepv by I stepmanner.

position to an advanced position in apathwhich includes. a. position intermediate; between. said advanced: position and said initial position, said. member also being supported for local movement,

thereof while in either of said positions,. means actuated by said part of saidv register register- .ingmultiples'of units and eifectivetomove said member from said initial position to said'inter mediateposition upon completion of registration ofmultiple-units and actuatedby said units-part of said. registerv to move saidmember to said advanced position upon completion of registration of the last unit of measurementan element actuatediby; said fluid. meter and arranged to engage said member when; inieither said intermediatea or; said: advanced position toefiect saiddeliveryof, material to. be m a ured hrou h said. 7Q;localrmoyementzthereof; saidmembenin said-iniacsas'i'e i tial position being clear of engagement by said element, a piece actuatable by said member in its local movement in said intermediate osition and operatively connected to said means for holding said valve open so as to eiiect when so actuated disengagement of said holding means and movement of said valve toward its closed position, means for intercepting said valve in said closing movement thereof and for holding it in partially open position, said piece also being actuatable by said member in its localmovement in said advanced position so as again to effect disengagement of said holding means and movement of said valve to closed position, a mechanical power transmission element operatively connected to said register to operate said register in said return movement thereof upon power transmitting operation of said mechanical transmission element, power means connectible to said transmission element for effecting power transmitting operation of said transmission element, and means actuated intermittently by said meter for establishing power transmitting connection between said power means and said transmission element to transmit power to said register through said element at intervals corresponding to units of measurement as determined by said meter.

4. In a fluid dispensing apparatus, the combination'with a fluid meter, and a valve for controlling flow of the fluid to be measured through said meter, of a register settable from a zero .position to a position corresponding to the amount of fluid to be measured and operable to return to zero position, said register having a disc rotatable in proportionate relation to units of measurement and disc rotatable in proportionate relation to a multiple of said units of measurement, each of said discs having a recess at a point in its periphery corresponding to the zero indication for said disc, a pair of rollers mounted respectively adjacent the peripheries of said discs for movement concomitantly into full engagement with said recesses when said rollers respectively are in registry with said recesses and for movement concomitantly out of said .1

recesses upon setting of said register, the diamters of said rollers and or said discs and the depths of said recesses respectively being such that when said units disc only is in a position of setting said rollers are held in a position intermediate between that or" lull engagement of said rollers with said recesses and the outer position which said rollers occupy when said multiples disc is in a position of setting, a dog supported for movement from an initial position to an advanced position in a path which also includes an intermediate position, said dog being supported for local movement thereof when in either said advanced or said intermediate position, means connecting said rollers to said dog to effect movement of said dog from said initial position to said advanced position when said rollers concomitantly enter both said recesses corresponding to said zero position of said re ister but to move said dog to its intermediate position in said path when said multiples disc indicates zero while said units disc holds said rollers in said intermediate position thereof, means actuated by said meter and effective at intervals corresponding to completion of successive units of measurement operatively to engage said dog to effect said local movement thereof when said dog is in either of said positions in said path but ineffective to engage said dog when in said initial position, means operatively connecting said dog with said valve to effect initial closing movement of said valve upon said local movement of said dog in said intermediate position, means for intercepting said valve in said initial movement thereof to hold said valve partially open, said connecting means being effective upon said local movement of said dog in said advanced position to release said valve from said intercepting means to produce full closure of said valve, a mechanical power transmission element operatively connected to said register to operate said register in said return movement thereof upon power transmitting operation of said mechanical transmission element, power means connectible to said transmission element for effecting power transmitting operation of said transmission element, and means actuated intermittently by said meter for establishing power transmitting connection between said power means and said transmission element to transmit power to said register through said element at intervals corresponding to units of measurement as determined by said meter.

5. In a dispensing apparatus, the combination with a measuring device, means for controlling delivery of material to be measured through said device, means to bias said delivery control means to its stop delivery position, means for holding said delivery control means in delivery position against said bias, a register settable from zero to a position representing the amount of material to be measured and returnable to zero, and means operatively connecting said measuring device to said register to return said register to zero concomitantly with operation of said measuring device, of a member supported to be movable between an initial position and an advanced position and to be movable locally in said advanced position, an element actuated by said measuring device during the measuring operation and arranged operatively to engage said member when said member is in said advanced position once in the measurement of each unit of delivered material to effect local movement of said member but ineffective to engage said memher in said initial position, and means operatively connecting said register to said delivery control means to effect movement of said delivery control means toward its stop delivery position upon return of said register to zero, said last means comprising said member, said element, electrical means operatively connected to said register and cooperating therewith and with said member to move said member to said advanced position upon return of said register to zero, and means operatively connecting said member to said holding means to transmit said local movement of said member in said advanced position to said holding means to actuate said holding means to release said delivery control means to move under its bias toward its stop delivery position.

6. In a fluid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a fluid meter, a valve for controlling delivery of fluid to be measured through said meter, means to bias said valve to move to closed position, means eifective when said valve is open for restraining said valve from moving to closed position, a register settable from zero to a position representing the amount of fluid to be measured and returnable to zero, and means operatively connecting said meter to said register to return said register to zero concomitantly with operation of said meter, of a member supported to be movable between an initial position and an advanced position and to be movable locally in said advanced position, an element actuated by said meter and operatively engaging said member when said member is in said advanced position at intervals corresponding to units of measurementas measured by said meter to effect said local movement of said member, said member in said initial position being incapable of engagement by said element, electrically operated means operatively connected to said restraining means and operable for actuating said restraining means to release said valve to move under its bias towards closed position, said electrical means being operatively connected to said register and to said member so as to be operated to effect said actuation of said restraining means upon said actuation of said member by said element when said member is in said advanced position.

7. In a fluid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a fluid meter, a valve for controlling delivery of fluid to be measured through said meter, said valve being biased to move to its closed position, a register having a units wheel and a wheel for registering multiples of said unit, said register being settable from zero position to a position correspondingto the amount of fluid to be measured andv being operable to return to zero position, and means operatively connecting said meter to said register to return said register to zero concomitantly with operation of said meter, of a' member supported to be movablefrom an initial position successively to a second position andla third position, means actuatedby said fluid meter and operatively engaging said member when in either said second or said third position at intervals corresponding to units of measurement and incapable of engaging said member in said initial position thereof, means for restraining said valve against its bias from moving to closed position, electrical means operable for actuating said restraining means to release said valve to move toward its closed position under its bias, means including said member operatively connecting said register to said restraining means, said connecting means being actuated by said multiples wheel to move said member to said second position upon completion of registration of all but a predetermined number of units of measurement and being actuated by said units wheel to move said member from said second to said third position upon completion of registration of the last unit of measurement, said connecting means and said member being actuated by said means actuated by said meter to operate said electrical means to actuate said restraining means to release said valve when said member is operatively engaged in said second position and thereafter to intercept said valve to hold it partially open, said connecting means and said member being actuated by said means actuated by said meter to operate said electrical means to actuate said restraining means to release said valve to move to closed position when said member is operatively engaged in said third position.

8. In a fluid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a fluid meter, a valve for controlling delivery of fluid to be measured through said meter, a register having a units wheel and a tens wheel and settable from zero position to a position corresponding to the amount of fluid to be measured operable to return to zero position, and means operatively connecting said meter to said register to return said register to zero concomitantly with operation of said meter, of means 18 operated by said units wheel for opening and closing a connection in an electrical circuit, means operated by said tens wheel for opening and closing a connection in said electrical circuit, a member supported to be movable from an initial position successively to a second position and a third position, electrical actuated power means in said circuit for moving said member to and from said positions, means actuated by said electrical actuated power means to effect movement of said member to said second position upon operation of said electrical connection means operated by said tens wheel and to effect movement of said member to said third position upon operation of said electrical connection means operated by said units wheel, means actuated by said measuring device and operatively engaging said member when in either said second position or said third position at intervals corresponding to units of measurement, means cooperating with said member when operatively engaged in said second position and operatively connected to said valve for effecting partial closure of said valve to control delivery of said fluid at a reduced rate, and means cooperating with said member when operatively engaged in said third position and operatively connected to said valve for effecting full closure of said valve so as to stop delivery of said fluid.

9. In adispensing apparatus, the combination with a measuring device, means for controlling delivery of material to be measured through said device, and a register settable from an initial position to a position corresponding to the amount of material to be measured and operable to return tosaid initial position, ofa flexible shaft operatively connected to said register to drive said register upon rotation of said shaft, means actuated intermittently by said measuring device and operatively connected to said shaft to rotate said shaft in step by step manner to effect return of said register to said initial position, said steps corresponding to units of measurement measured by said measuring device, and means controlled by said register to be eflective when said register is in said initial position so as to be actuated by said measuring device at intervals corresponding to said units of measurement and operatively connected to said delivery control means for moving said delivery control means to its stop delivery position at completion of the last unit of measurement by said measuring device.

10. In a dispensing apparatus, the combination with a measuring device, means for controlling delivery of material to be measured through said device, and a register settable from an initial position to a position corresponding to the amount of material to be measured and operable to return to said initial position, of a flexible shaft operatively connected to said register to drive said register upon rotation of said shaft, means actuated intermittently by said measuring device and operatively connected to said shaft to rotate said shaft in step by step manner to efiect return of said register to said initial position, said steps corresponding to units of measurement ,measured by said measuring device, means controlled by said register to be effective when said register is in said initial position so as to be actuated by said measuring device at intervals corresponding to said units of measurement and op-' eratively connected to said delivery control means for moving said delivery control means to its stop delivery position at completion of the last unit of measurement by said measuring device, and means connected between said flexible shaft 19 and said register for effecting step by step movement of said register relative to the rotation of said flexible shaft.

11. In a dispensing apparatus the combination with a fluid meter, a valve for controlling delivery of fluid through said meter, a register remotely located with respect to said meter and settable from zero to a position representing the amount of fluid to be measured and operable to return to zero from said setting position, of a member located adjacent said meter and operatively connected'to and actuated by said register upon setting thereof to move to an initial position and upon return of said register to zero to move to an advanced position, an element actuated by said meter during metering operation thereof and arranged operatively to engage said member when in said advanced position once in the measurement of each unit of delivered fluid but ineffective to engage said member in said initial position thereof, means actuated by said member upon said operative engagement thereof by said element and operatively connected to said valve for effecting closing movement of said valve, means providing a mechanical driving connection between said meter and said register to effect return movement of said register to zero, and

viding a mechanical driving connection between said meter and said register comprises a mechanical power transmission element operatively connected to saidregister to operate said register in said return movement thereof upon power transmitting operation of said mechanical transmission element, power means connectible to said transmission element for effecting power transmitting operation of said transmission element, and means actuated intermittently by said meter for establishing power transmitting connection between said power means and said transmission element to transmit power to said register through said element at intervals corresponding to units of measurement as determined by said meter.

CHARLES S. HAZARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,607,899 Long Nov. 23, 1926 1,656,049 Damrow Jan. 10, 1928 1,759,396 Granberg May 20, 1930 1,876,512 Pfenm'ng Sept. 6, 1932 2,060,674 Hicks Nov. 10, 1936 2,193,474 Brayer Mar. 12, 1940 2,228,820 Grifiith et al. Jan. 14, 1941 2,319,444 Crosby May 18, 1943 2,321,062 Bergman et a1 June 8, 1943 2,358,712 Hinds Sept. 19, 1944 

